Kitchen-utility units



July 7, 1959 G, L, C. EARLE I 2,893,807

Y KITCHEN-UTILITY UNITS Filed Jan. 16, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet l GUVONLC. EARLE July 7, 1959 G. L. c. EARLE KITCHEN-UTILITY UNITS 3 Sheets-Sheetl 2 Filed Jan. 16, 1956 /NVENTR cuyo/VL. c. 'ARLE BV l ,7L s a/zj- ATTORNEY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 16, 1956 /NVEA/TOR GUYON L. C. EARLE www ATTORNEY United Se@ Patenti@ 2,893,807' KrrcirEN-'rmrv UNrrs Guyon L. C. Earle, New Yorlr,"N.Y. Application January 16, 1956, Serial No. 559,292 1 Claim. (Cl. '312-279) This invention relates to kitchen-utility units and more specifically to such units employing stove or burner arrangements.

In a number of patents of the present inventor, set-back or L-shaped kitchen or utility room units are disclosed. In each of these structures there is a lower or base cabinet, an intermediate set-back cabinet positioned above and to the rear of the base cabinet, a table-top member above the portion of the base cabinet in front of the intermediate cabinet and an upper cabinet positioned above the intermediate cabinet. These units save much space in the kitchen or utility room since the intermediate setback cabinets make use of wall-space which is usually wasted. In one of these Earle patents (No. 2,180,459, issued November 2l, 1939), there is disclosed an arrangement of the L-shaped or set-back type employing a stove or burner compartment in the intermediate setback cabinets.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide improved space-saving arrangements each employing as a part thereof a stove or burner compartment in the set-back cabinet.

A rst embodiment in accordance with the present invention employs an automatic clothes drying machine under the work top of an L-shaped unit, of the general configuration of the earlier-patented Earle units described above, with a novel venting arrangement. In most homes, the conventional clothes dryers vent into the utility room causing very moist, warm air to sweat the walls and damage the decorations, or the moist air is carried by a flue to the outside. In the present invention, the warm, moist air from the clothes dryer is caused to be directed into the stove or burner compartment in the intermediate set-back cabinet, preferably through a lint trap, and thence conducted through the flue system for the burner compartment away from the vicinity of the clothes dryer. In the top portion of the clothes dryer cabinet, above the clothes dryer per se, is placed a deep well cooker.

In a second embodiment, a high oven or a heater and incinerator package unit is positioned adjacent the burner compartment. If desired an oven and broiler can be placed in the front of the kitchen unit in place of the clothes dryer of the first embodiment. The high oven or heater and incinerator package utilizes a common flue system with the burner compartment.

The invention will be more readily understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which:

Fig. l is a front perspective view of a kitchen-utility unit in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view, with portions in crosssection, of the arrangement of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a front perspective view of a modication of the arrangement of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a front elevation view, with portions in crosssection, of a portion of the arrangement of Fig. 3 showing a ue arrangement in accordance with `the invention. Fig; 1

Referring more specifically tothe drawings, shows, by way of example for purposes of illustratioma kitchen-utility unit 10 yin accordance with the-invention.'

The unit 10 is preferably of the L"sha'p edpor -set-back type, that is, one in which the front-surfaces ofthe intermediate portion 11'and of theupfper portion 12thereof are placed to the yrearY (or set-back from) the`front surface of the lower portion 13 of the unit. 'Iheflowei' portion 13 comprises the lower part 14 of a set-back refrigerator 15, sink 16, a clothes washer 17, and clothes dryer 18. The intermediate portion 11 comprises the intermediate portion 19 of the refrigerator 15, a dish-dry ing compartment 20 and a burner compartment 21. The upper compartment 12 comprises shelved cabinets 22.

A table-top member 23, having cut-out portions for the sink 16, the lid 24 covering the loading opening for the clothes washer 17 and, if desired, a deep well cooker 25, I

is placed above the lower portion 13 and in front of the intermediate portion 11. The whole unit 10 preferably rests on a recessed base 26. For more details of Lshaped kitchen units having the general configuration of the arrangement of Fig. l reference is made to the above-identified Earle patent and to other Earle patents including, for example, Patent No. 2,349,541 issued May 23, 1944.

The heart of the novel embodiments in accordance with the invention is the stove or burner compartment 21. This contains a plurality of burners 27 the controls 28 for which, and for the deep well cooker 25, are on the splash plate 29. Preferably, and it is considered a most important feature, the tops of burners 27 are at approximately the same level as the top of the splash plate 29 so that utensils can be slid off and on the burners with great facility. Over the top of the burner compartment 21 is a hood 30 which opens at the rear thereof to a flue system 31 which can be, if desired, of. the interlocking type disclosed in Earle Patent 2,349,541 mentioned above. The ue 31 vents to the outside air or to a centralized ue system (in the case of apartment houses).

Within the burner compartment 21 is a lint trap 32 through which moist, warm air from the dryer 18 can exhaust -into the compartment 21 and thence be carried off by the flue system 31. This is a real advantage for kitchens as it prevents the walls and decorations from being steamed. Suitable controls 33 for the dryer 18 are provided on the front of the unit.

In the embodiment 40 of Figs. 3 and 4, a large vertical heater unit or heater and incinerator unit 41 is positioned beside the burner compartment 21 and the ue 31 is common to the two. Details of the unit 41 have not been shown as any conventional package unit of this type can be used. The main feature in connection therewith of interest in the present invention is that the flue entrance 42 is properly positioned therein so as to carry the fumes and exhaust thereof into the ue system 31.

Another feature of interest in the embodiment 40 is the provision of an oven and broiler unit 43 of any conventional type in the lower cabinet in front of the burner compartment 21. The exhaust of the unit 43 is carried into the burner compartment 21 through opening 44 from whence it is conducted into the flue system 31. Controls l above .themortinn .of ,the base .cabinet Vin front of said intermediate cabinet, and an upper cabinet having a hood and ue therein positioned above said intermediate cabinet,` ,said vintermediatecabnet having a .fp1urrality of burners therein.zrpositioned-'.-below said hood -for renting through -saidhQQdvaand ysaid Fflu'e, lsaid lower cabinet ineudinga-.clothes drying-machine which gives oi warm, mostexhaust air and means iforverlti1-1g from said 4machine into fsaid ,intermediate :cabinet beiow said -ue and pnsitned so that said :exhaust Aair .can be carried ofi by said hood and-ue, said\.enting meansihaving a-lint trap therein..

References Cited in the le of this lpatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Bassler May 24, 1932 Rogers June 19, 1934 Parsons Sept. 29, 1939 Koch V Mar. 10, 1942 Patterson et al. Oct. 25, 1949 Earle -Jan 30, 1951 Earle Heb. 5, 1952 

